Cematary or Cemetery: Which is Correct?

"Cematary" is a misspelling of "cemetery," which is a place where deceased individuals are buried and/or memorialized.

A cemetery is an area where the remains of the deceased, such as their bodies or ashes, are laid to rest. Cemeteries often serve as a final resting place and a location for memorialization, allowing family members and loved ones to visit the graves of those who have passed away.

Cemeteries can vary in size, design, and cultural practices associated with burials. They are typically maintained by cemetery authorities or organizations to provide a peaceful and respectful environment for remembering and honoring the deceased. Cemeteries may also include various types of grave markers, memorials, tombstones, or monuments to commemorate the lives of those buried there.

For instance, people will visit their grandparents or great-grandparents who have passed away in cemeteries. In some cultures, the ones paying their respects bring flowers, while in others, family and friends bring alcoholic beverages for the deceased. Other customs include bringing candles, incense, food, photos, letters, mementos, music or prayers, and other gifts.

The culture of the country also changes what cemeteries look like and where they are located. In countries with large Christian populations, many cemeteries are found in close proximity to churches, while in some East Asian countries where land is limited, there are more columbariums, where cremated ashes of deceased individuals are respectfully stored, than cemeteries. Below is an image of a columbarium, where loved ones bring flowers for their deceased family members or friends.

The use of "cematary" versus "cemetery"

As shown in the graph above, the correctly spelled "cemetery" dominates over the misspelled "cematary" in terms of the number of uses in Google's corpus of books and other material.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest known use of the noun "cemetery" is from before 1464 in the writing of a theologian and historian named John Capgrave. This time period was the Middle English period (1150-1500) when the Norman Conquest of England was heavily influencing the English language.

Example sentences

The old cemetery on the hill is rumored to be haunted.
Many historical figures are buried in this cemetery.
The cemetery is beautifully landscaped with flowers and trees.
Every Memorial Day, we place flowers on the graves in the cemetery.
The cemetery is a peaceful place for reflection and contemplation.
The cemetery gates were adorned with intricate ironwork.
The cemetery is the final resting place for generations of our family.
The city plans to expand the cemetery to accommodate more burials.
The cemetery was founded in the 19th century and has a rich history.
We held a small, private ceremony at the cemetery to say our goodbyes.

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